Body identified as ocean swimmer who went missing

SAN LUIS OBISPO (AP) — A body found in the waters off the Central Coast last week has been identified as missing Cal Poly student Stefan Wagner, according to sheriff’s officials.

The 21-year-old’s body was found floating in the water near Spooner’s Cove in Montana de Oro State on June 28, eight days after he went missing while swimming off on a rugged section of San Luis Obispo County coastline, The Tribune of San Luis Obispo reported Thursday.

A dive team, a search and rescue team and helicopters scoured the coastline after the former water polo player from Fresno went missing, but couldn’t find him.

An autopsy will be conducted, including a toxicology report that is expected to take three to four weeks.

Stefan Wagner was a third-year student majoring in biomedical engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo when he went swimming with his friends.

At the time, park ranger Lisa Remington said Wagner swam out and dove under water, beyond the reach of his friends, who called 911 about a swimmer in distress.

Wagner’s father, Bryan Wagner, told the Tribune that his son was a body surfer who loved the ocean.

Wagner’s grandfather, Jim Wagner, used to dive for abalone and lobster in San Pedro, and taught Stefan to swim.

“That’s a dangerous spot out there,” he said during the search, eyeing the area where his grandson was last seen.

The treacherous conditions at Spooner’s Cove have a deadly reputation. The area’s big waves, choppy conditions and currents claimed the life of another Cal Poly student, 19-year-old Enrique Jimenez, in 2006.